Cane Corso Breed Information
CANADIAN KENNEL CLUB, GROUP III, WORKING DOGS
CANE CORSO BREED STANDARD
Cane Corso
Origin & Purpose
The Cane Corso is the direct descendant of the ancient Roman molosser
dogs. In the past, the breed was common throughout Italy, but is now
found in the provinces of Foggia and Bari. His name derives from the
Latin “cohors”, which means “protector, guardian of the farms,
courtyards and enclosed property. The breed first appeared in the
sixteenth century and was used for hunting and guard duties.
General Appearance
Medium to large sized dog. Robust and sturdy, nevertheless elegant.
Lean, with powerful long muscles.
Temperament
Guardian of property, family and livestock; extremely agile and
responsive. In the past, it has been used for herding cattle and hunting
big game.
Size
Height
Height at the withers, Males from 24 to 27 inches (62 to 68 cm) and
Females from 23 to 25 inches (58 to 64 cm). Tolerance of inch (2 cm)
more or less.
Weight
Males from 92.6 to 110.2 lbs (42 to 50 kg) and Females 83.8 to 99.2 lbs
(38 to 45 kg).
Important Proportions
The length of the head reaches 36% of the height at withers. The dog is
somewhat longer than high.
Coat & Colour
Coat: short (not smooth), shiny, very thick with a light undercoat.
Colour: black, lead grey, slate, light fawn (yellowish), stag red, brindle;
black mask is present in fawn coloured dogs.
Head
Large and typically molossoid. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull
and muzzle converge slightly. Skull: wide; at the zygomatic arch its width
is equal to or greater than its length. Convex in front, it becomes fairly
flat behind the forehead as far as the occiput. The medio-fontal furrow
is visible. Stop: marked. Nose: black and large with ample, open nostrils
on the same line as the nasal bridge. Muzzle: noticeably shorter than the
skull (ratio : skull 62%-64%, muzzle 36-38%), strong, extremely square,
with a flat front face and parallel nearly as wide as long lateral surfaces.
The profile of the nasal bridge is rectilinear. Lips: the upper lips hang
moderately and cover the mandible, so that the lower profile of the
muzzle is determined by the lips. Jaw/Teeth: jaw very large, thick and
curved. Lightly undershot. Level and scissors bite acceptable. Eyes:
medium-sized, ovoid, looking directly forward, slightly protruding.
Eyelids close fitting. Colour of the iris as dark as possible, depending
from the colour of the coat. Expression keen and attentive. Ears:
triangular, drooping, with a large set on high above the zygomtic arch.
Almost always cropped in the shape of an equilateral triangle.
Neck
Strong, fairly thin, muscular, as long as the head.
Forequarters
Shoulder: long, oblique, very muscular. Upper arm: strong. Forearm:
straight, very strong. Carpal joint and pasterns: elastic. Forefeet: cat feet.
Body
The body is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. Sturdily
built, but not squat. Withers: pronounced, rising above the level of the
croup. Back: rectilinear, very muscular and firm. Loins: short and
solid. Croup: long, wide, slightly inclined. Chest: well developed in
three dimensions, reaches to the elbow.
Hindquarters
Upper thigh: long, wide, posteriorly convex. Lower thigh: thin, strong.
Hocks: moderately angulated. Metatarsals: thick and narrow. Hind
feet: slightly less compact than the forefeet.
Tail
Set on of the tail fairly high; very thick at the root. The tail is docked at
the fourth vertebra. In action carried high, but never curled nor erect.
Fault
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be
in exact proportion to its degree.
-
Accentuated parallelism or very marked converging of the axes
of the muzzle and the skull; converging side lines of the muzzle.
-
Pronounced and disturbing undershot mouth.
-
Nose: partial depigmentation.
-
Tail: ring-tail, tail in vertical position.
-
Size: over-or undersize.
-
Movement: continuously ambling.
Disqualification
- Axes of the muzzle and the skull diverging.
- Overshot mouth.
- Bridge of nose resolutely hollow, ram's nose.
- Nose: total depigmentation.
- Eyes: partial and bilateral palpebral depigmentation, wall eye,
bilateral strabismus.
- Tail: tailless, short tail (artificial or congenital).
- Hair: semi-long, smooth, fringed.
- Colour: all colours not indicated in the standard; white patches
too large.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
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